#historicalswordsmanship

[steelandcotton]

Swordsman wielding a Dadao Beijing circa 1930s Photo by Hedda Morrison

[primordialfireforge]

Salutations! This quillon dagger is now added to my Etsy Shop. It is forged from high carbon steel, with dyed flaming birch handle. Everything is riveted together traditionally. #alkutuli #primordialfireforge #dagger #quillondagger #bladesmith #blade #medieval #reenactment #historicalswordsmanship https://www.instagram.com/p/B-wYyepn9AX/?igshid=n8d5opbyvlac

[omgflint21]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUKA5C-HthY)

[steelandcotton]

A High Qing Officer

Armed with a Jian. The vast majority of Manchu Bannermen carried dao, so it is quite unusual to see an official armed in this fashion.We know he is a Bannerman by the green jade thumb around his right thumb.Thumb rings were worn as a symbol of their status as Qiren. One might think that his man was left handed given that he is wearing his sword on his right hip. But the thumb ring on his right thumb indicated he was indeed right handed. Perhaps there were some social situations where those armed were required to wear their swords on the opposite hip to prevent a quick draw. If this is the case, I am unaware of such a tradition in China. My suggestion is pure speculation. It is also quite possible that the artist simple decided he liked this look better and the swords position on the right hip has nothing to do with how it was actual worn.

19th Century, Chinese School Painting.

[steelandcotton]

Swordsman wielding a Dadao Beijing circa 1930s Photo by Hedda Morrison

[steelandcotton]

Republican Era Chinese Jian with clearly visible differential heat treating of the edge plate that creates a very hard edge. This harden edge makes it excellent for cutting, and it holds its edge quite well. However, the same hardness than makes for superior cutting effectiveness also means that the edge is relatively brittle. For this reason, Chinese Sword Arts standardly deflect with the blade flat rather that parrying with the edge.

Hard blocks with sanmai (three plate) type swords, those of China and Japan, with the edge can lead to a catastrophic failure of the blade.

[steelandcotton]

Qing Period images of Bannermen drawing their swords are rare, so I was quite please to uncover this portrait of one unsheathing his Jian.

Comparing what we see here with other Qing Period paintings, we should note several consistent details-

When Drawing a Jian, the left hand typically grasps the scabbard near to, or at, the scabbard throat. 

The upward draw into a Liao Cut appears to be the favored draw. This upward Liao can be angled to intercept a cut or initiate an advance.

Jian were often slung from a belt by cloth lanyards, however, it appears that in most cases Jianke preferred to carry the sword in the left free from any restraints a lanyard might impose.

While these details of technique and carry are those commonly depicted, we should also keep in mind that these might have also been a matter of artistic convention of the time.

[steelandcotton]

Qing Bannerman The Dao was standardly slung with the hilt back in this fashion during the Qing period. Judging from this Bannerman's embroidered changpao and leopard skin jacket he is no doubt a high ranking officer. 

[steelandcotton]

Full Contact Chinese Swordplay Tournament Baltimore, 2023

No reason why you can’t close and use your empty hand to control your Duifang’s weapon.

A solid blow to the head or worse counts as a “killing blow” and ends the bout.

[steelandcotton]

19th Pith Painting of a Jianke in Archaic Clothing

Drawing his Sword-

Another example of a Jianke (swordsman) drawing his jian. As we’ve seen in several other period images, his left hand is positioned at the throat of the scabbard as he draws for a downward cut. These pith paintings were produced in large numbers, this is not a page from a sword manual. So we should be cautious about drawing too many conclusions from it. It is interesting however to note that in multiple period images where a jian is being drawn, the left hand is showed at the top of the scabbard. Drawing of the dao are sometimes also depicted in this fashion, but more often with the left hand further down the scabbard at the suspension band.

I am also pleased to see the shape of the guard is quite similar to my Cutting Jian Hanwei forges.

[steelandcotton]

Chinese Dao (Sabers) are slung from the waist edge down. And so when racked on a sword stand, the edge is down, not up. Edge up racking is a Japanese method of presenting Katana and is incorrect for Chinese Swords. Image is of a Cloud Ladder Unit Saber (健銳營雲梯刀圖) from the Qing Imperial Regulations.

[steelandcotton]

Chinese Swords Deflection, Edge Parries or Blade Flat? What do the Antique Swords Tell Us?

Setting theory aside, I've been quite fortunate to handle literally thousands of antique Chinese Swords. I did this as a dealer, owning and reselling over 600 pieces, visiting major private collections (when you are dealing, people you sell to will invite you to see their collections, and traveling to examine museum reserve collections. For example, I've handled everything in the reserve collections of the State Historical Museum in Moscow, and the Met's in New York.

One thing that is quite clear from examining the large sample of Qing and Ming period swords is that there is a distinct lack of edge damage. Certainly, all acknowledge that is would and did happen in life and death encounters. But there is no evidence that edge parrying was common or the standard. Quite the opposite in fact, one finds cuts on the blade flat, and few serious edge nicks, certainly not exhibiting the depth or the sort of damage the test show result from edge parrying.

Concerning museum collections, it can be argued that they represent a sort of “survivor’s bias.” That is, those pieces persevered in these collections are the better pieces, often those made for the upper class and ranks. Some of swords displayed in museums never saw any combat use. This is a valid and important point. However, this is not generally the case with museum reserve collections. This is wear the swords not “nice” enough for display are housed for study. Here one can counter the “user” swords. The same is true of private collections. And a very large proportion of the weapons I handled as an antique dealer were these made for, and put to use, category of swords. Study the whole of the surviving material is what is important when it come to drawing any conclusions. Having done this, as stated above, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that edge parries were avoided and that blade felt was standardly employed for deflections.

[steelandcotton]

Twin Cities Chinese Swordsmanship Seminar March 3-6, '23

Great River Taoist Center Twin Cities

https://grtcmsp.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

[steelandcotton]

A well timed, perfectly placed Ge Cut delivered by Roland Tepp on the right that intercepts his duifangs cut. Ge Cuts are properly aimed at the sword arm or hand and not the blade. Striking the duifang’s blade often has little result or can even giving the duifang energy to counter-cut with.

Roland Tepp is a long time Apprentice Student at the Academy and runs the Tallinn Branch of the Great River Taoist Center where he teaches.

[steelandcotton]

Manchu Scholar with his Sword and Ink Stones, the perfect example of the Sword and Brush as One~

As depicted in "Tie Bao Xiang,《铁保像》" Qing Dynasty, painted by Ding Yicheng Described by the Palace Museum as a Sitting Portrait of Tie Bao, a famous calligrapher in the Qing Dynasty. Tie Bao wears a blue robe and black shoes, a crown hat on his head, his left hand is naturally bent in the shape of a beard, his right arm is leaning on the table, holding an inkstone tile, his face is dignified, and his eyes are full of spirit. On the wooden table on the right side of the figure, there are two inkstone tiles and a sword. This work still retains the traditional composition method of the Bochen School, focusing on the characters, with appropriate background scenery to highlight the protagonist's identity and personality characteristics. In the picture, it is very appropriate to use inkstone and sword to express the character of a Manchu official and calligrapher. See:https://www.dpm.org.cn/collection/paint/228821.html?hl=%E7%A0%9A This interesting jian is a "Longquan (Dragon Well) Style. For a Similar Example, See- Duanjian, the Chinese Short Sword- Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship Series on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awmdezzqa7U&t=363s